"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
We visited a sheep farm that belonged to the family through whom we purchased our latest grass-fed beef supply. When Brad, the owner, delivered our meat a couple of weeks prior, he talked with us for 45 minutes telling us about his sheep farm. He joyously shared with us their farming philosophies and techniques, their goals and interests and encouraged us to come out for a visit to meet their 140 sheep, including their recently birthed babies that we could bottle feed! He was such a genuinely nice guy that I took him up on his offer and invited a friend of mine and her 3 kids to join us for a day at the sheep farm.
Upon arrival, the kids eagerly ran up to the barn towards the direction of the loud chorus of bleating.
The barn was packed with 140 sheep: big sheep, little sheep, white sheep, and black sheep. The sheep were free to roam where they desired. Brad told the kids to go absolutely where ever they wanted: up and over fences, in the stalls amongst the babies, in the barn yard amongst the big mamas, or out in the meadows and pasture. You really don't get a good perspective of just how large a full grown sheep can be if you're standing behind a fence! There was a separate pen where the lambs that Brad bottled fed, because their mothers didn't care for them, could jump through the fence and get some respite from the rest of the herd. They would run up to the kids without fear and lick them and nuzzle them and eat out of their hands.
The smell was rejeuvenating. The land was gorgeous! Rich green grass graced the vast rolling hills and meadows. It went on as far as the eye could see. It was glorious! The hills were alive with the sound of baaaaaaing...ah ah ah ahhhh.
There was a tree line way back at the edge of the pasture and Brad told us that the property even went far beyond the wooded area and the sheep were free to roam where ever they desired. The herd always stuck together and never strayed too far away and always returned upon hearing the shepherd's voice calling them or when ever he'd wave a white bucket in the air. Then they would stampede back thinking that they were about to be fed.
Teagan the terrorized Betty got to experience a stampede first hand...or rather first hoof. The boys, being boys, adopted the responsibility of shepherd with pride and testosterone fueled fervor. They were herding the sheep as well as any ol' sheep dog could! It was impressive! It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. James said it was one of the best days of his life!
James & his friend Solomon would drive the sheep all the way out to the far reaches of the pasture and out into the wooded area beyond where we could even see them. My friend Jen and I were busy talking with Brad and enjoying the beauty and peace as we walked towards where they had gone. We weren't the slightest bit concerned since we could see that the sheep were more or less afraid of the roaring boys and would go wherever they wanted and they it was evident that they would always come back to the safety and security of their shepherd and their home in the barn. Brad kept repeating "It's okay girls, it's okay girls". They would almost instantly calm down from the trust they had of their master. It was almost comical to see the separation of the Ewes from their lambs and then watch as the babies would follow the sounds of their mother's beating's until they were reunited with their mothers and all was well with their world.
Teagan decided to head back up towards us ahead of the boys and herd and see what was taking us so long. Well, we weren't the slightest bit concerned until we saw the herd of 140 sheep stampede back towards us with 3 roaring boys running after them. Teagan was a good 100 feet or so ahead of them walking. We saw them coming. You don't know how fast sheep can run until you've seen a stampede. She heard them, she felt the ground under her feet trembling. I saw sheer terror overcome her body as she launched into in all out run to get to me in time. We were another 100 feet away from where she was. I yelled at her to stop and turn around because I knew that they would stop because they were more afraid of her than anything and they'd stop before they got to this huge puddle/pond that was at the bottom of the hill right before they got back to the pasture up towards the barn. There was no stopping her though-and when she got to me she lunged up into my arms. I turned her around so she could see the amazing sight of 140 sheep, coming to a complete stop! It sounds weird I know, but it was one of the coolest things to see 140 sheep running up behind your little 5 year old, with 3 boys driving them from behind, and seeing them come to a sheer stop at the sound of their shepherd's voice and the roadblock. I only wish I had gotten my camera out in time to capture the awesomeness of the moment! Teagan looked back and was almost proud of her accomplishment in avoiding being trampled. "That's amazing Mom" she said.
The kids learned all about the workings of being a real shepherd and the responsibilities that accompany. James even asked Brad if he wanted any help with anything while we were there. Brad was impressed with the kids questions, their manners, enthusiasm and maturity. I told him about Lil' James' passion for animals and his work ethic. Brad said he'd love to hire James as some cheap labor. I can't wait for that day! The biblical parallels that were drawn throughout the entire experience were overwhelming. My thoughts naturally turned to Jesus our head shepherd. I was compelled to think of David and what the tune of his Psalms sounded like and the calming effect they must have had on the herd, the sheep's response to their master's voice, the young children being trained by the hands of their family shepherds, did Jesus have a pet lamb?, the lost sheep of our body...so many things to apply to our own lives. It was a biblical experience that could only be obtained when interacting with the shepherd and his flock on the level that we did.
What a blessed day! What a blessed experience! I want to take everyone I know!
My little shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
